Several films made a mark at the box office, and some newcomers made it big on the silver screen, as Oriya cinma returned a robust performance once again. Orissa’s tinsel town has been producing around thirty movies a year for the past four years, consistently. As we move forward to 2018, a lookback at the film scenario in 2017 seems timely…
Releases
Films which made a mark in 2017 (up to the time of writing) include ‘Nijhum Ratira Sathi’ starring Jyoti Nayak and Tamanna, ‘Godfather’ starring Siddhant Mohapatra, Anu Choudhury, and Rakhi Sawant (who appears in an item song), ‘Tamaku Dekhila Pare’ starring Sambit and Jhilik, ‘Dil Diwana Heigala’ starring Babusan and Shital, ‘Dil Ka Raja’ starring Jyoti Nayak and Pinky Priyadarshini, ‘Katha Deli Matha Chhuin’ starring Aman, Abhishek and Riya, ‘The End: Eithi Aarambha Eithi Sesha’ starring Aswini and Suraj, ‘Akhi Kholile Tu: Tu Hi Tu’ starring Deepak and Suramayee, ‘Sitaramanka Bahaghara Kalijugare’ starring Sabyasachi Mishra and Manesha, ‘Tu Mo Love Story’ starring Bhumika Das and Swaraj, ‘Tapori’ starring Ardhendu, ‘Tike Khara Tike Chhai’ starring Deepak and Priyanka, ‘Tulasi Apa’ starring Barsha Nayak and Madhusmita, ‘Bhakta O Bhagawan’ starring Bidwan and Leena, ‘Mitha Mitha’ starring Jyoti Nayak and Prakruti Mishra, ‘Sister Shridevi’ starring Babusan and Shibani, ‘Abhaya: The Common Man’ starring Anubhav and Elina Samantray, ‘Romeo Juliet’ starring Arindam and Barsha Priyadarshini, ‘Suna Pila Tike Screw Dhila’ starring Babusan and Sheetal, ‘Katha Nuhen e Katha’ starring Santosh Nayak and Sonali, ‘Sapanara Pathe Pathe’ starring Amlan and Sanmira, ‘Just Mohabbat’ starring Akash Dasnayak and Archita Sahu, ‘Mu Khanti Odia Jhia’ starring Ranbir and Elina, ‘Bhairav’ starring Ahana and Asit, ‘Badmas Toka’ starring Udayan Aparajit and Malavika Banerjee, ‘Emiti Bi Heipare’ starring Sashikant and Rupali, ‘Hero Number One’ starring Babusan and Bhumika Das, ‘Kabula Barabula’ starring Anubhav and Elina Samantray, ‘Shiva Not out’ starring Arindam and Archita, ‘Tu Mo Hero’ starring Jyoti and Jhilik, ‘Bajarangi’ starring Amlan, Siddhant Mohapatra and Anubha Sourya, ‘Mu Gote Dusta Pila’ starring Dushmanta Panda and Rani, ‘To Premare Padiala Pare’ starring Devraj and Chinmayee Priyadarshini, ‘Tike Anadi Pura Khiladi’ starring Karan Singh Ray and Sanjana and ‘Jagannath Dham Puri’ starring Devadutta and Ritika Rath.
Freshers
Like the previous years, this year also a number of newcomers were casted in Oriya films. Off them the actors who played protagonists in their debut films were Jyoti Nayak in ‘Nijhum Ratira Sathi’, Sushrut in ‘Godfather’, Swaraj in ‘Tu Mo Love Story’, Asit in Bhairav, Udayan Aparajit in ‘Badmas Toka’, Bidwan in ‘Bhakta O Bhagwan’, Ranbir Kalsi in ‘Mu Khanti Odia Jhia’ and Aman in ‘Katha Deli Matha Chhuin’. Among the actresses these people debuted as the lead actresses in films – Ahana in ‘Bhairav’, Sanmira in ‘Sapanara Pathe Pathe’, Malavika Banerjee in ‘Badmas Toka’, Bhumika Das in ‘Tu Mo Love Story’, Shivani in ‘Sister Sridevi’, Manesha in ‘Sitaramanka Bahaghara Kalijugare’, Ananya Mishra in ‘Godfather’, Priyanka in ‘Tike Khara Tike Chhai’, Sanjana in ‘Tike Anadi Pura Khiladi’ and Ritika Rath in ‘Jagannath Dham Puri’. Even some new producers ventured into Oriya films this year. They are – Santosh Kumar Singh (Nijhum Ratira Sathi), Subham Padhi (Tumaku Dekhila Pare), Sridhara Martha (Katha Deli Matha Chhuin), Sanjay Choudhury (Akhi Kholile Tu… Tu Hi Tu), Rabi Narayan Das (Emiti Bi Heipare), Ayaskanta Mohanty (Tike Khara Tike Chhai), Sanjay Rout and Trilochan Das (Mitha Mitha), Elin Somin (Katha Nuhen e Katha), Priti Amaresh Majhi (Tike Anadi Pura Khiladi), Kalyan Sundar Chhotray (Just Mohabbat), Soubhagya Ranjan Parida (Badmas Toka), Chinmayee (To Premare Padila Pare) and C Srinivas Rao (Tu Mo Hero). The first time directors this year were – Chandan Mohapatra (Tumaku Dekhila Pare), Shailendra Parida (Katha Deli Matha Chhuin), Saroj Mohapatra (Akhi Kholile Tu…), GNS Prasad (Sita Ramanaka…), Biswajit Panda (Tapori), Kumar Saroj (Tike Khara Tike Chhai) and Narottam Parida (Katha Nuhen…).
Film awards
The Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, under the aegis of the Department of Tourism & Culture, Government of Orissa hosted an award ceremony for the 28th State Odia Film Awards and 5th State Tele Awards on December 19 and 20, 2017 at Utkal Mandap, Bhubaneswar. Legendary Oriya singer Pranab Patnaik, who has sung evergreen songs such as ‘Ja Re Majhi Ja’, ‘Re Atman Nidra Parihari,’ was awarded with the prestigious Jaydev Puraskar at the festival.
Of the Oriya films released in 2016, ‘Chini’ was declared the best film. Made under the banner of Navjiban Films and directed by Pradeep Bhola, Oriya film ‘Chini’ stars Amlan Das and Patrali in the lead roles while Mahasweta Ray and Mihir Das play supporting roles. The film tells the story of Khira Nayak (Mihir Das), Pani Nayak (Mahasweta Ray) and their three children Chaha, Pati and Chini, who live in Vikhampur village. Manav (Amlan Das) comes to the village as a doctor and falls in love with Jagi (Patrali). They live happily until one day Chini falls sick. Subsequently, nothing seems to go Khira Nayak’s way. The movie is about the family’s struggles.
At the award ceremony, actor Samaresh Routray was declared the best actor for ‘Namard’ and Sushree Sangeeta Mohapatra (Lipi) bagged the best actress award for ‘Mimansa.’ Ajaya Rath bagged the best director award for ‘Namard’ and Gudli Rath got the best music director award for ‘Tu Kahibu Na Mu. ’Subrat Swain received the best lyricist award for ‘Agastya’ and the late Minaketan got the best supporting actor for ‘Mimansa.’ Legendary actress Mahasweta Ray got the best supporting actress award for ‘Dele Dhara Katha Sare.’
However, what made big news in the context of the film awards was actress Mahasweta Ray’s unhappiness about the award given to her. She felt that she should have been awarded for her film ‘Chini’ where, she thought, she had done well and not for ‘Dele Dhara Katha Sare.’
Fifth Tele awards
The Tele awards for 2016 were awarded this year. While ‘Sindura Bindu’ was declared the best serial, Choudhury Satyabrata Dash got the best actor for his role in the serial. Swetlina bagged the best actress award for ‘ACP Nikita’ and Hrudananda Pattnaik got the best supporting actor award for ‘Sindura Bindu.’ Rishi Pattanaik bagged the best villain award for ‘Kie.’ However, no one was picked for the best director award as the jury was of the opinion that there were no good original serials.
Starry weddings
Actress Jeena Samal married actor Rudra this year. Besides, TV actor Srijeet also tied the nuptial knot.
In memorium
Oriya actor Minaketan Das passed away this year at the age of 56 of cancer. He was famous for his villain roles and acted in around 60 films. He was last seen in the film ‘Agastya.’
Renowned dialogue writer Dr. Subodh Pattnaik died this year at the age of 70. Born in Boudh in 1947, Patnaik started his film career with the Uttam Mohanty starrer ‘Danda Balunga.’ Later he wrote the dialogues for films such as ‘Ganga Jamuna,’ ‘I Love You,’ ‘Sindura Nuhen Khelaghara,’ ‘Sathire,’ ‘Pagala Premi,’ and ‘Romeo the Loverboy.’
